7 Ways to Prepare for Spring Allergies

Don't wait for spring allergies to play havoc with your head. Get set for allergy season now.

You can
feel it in the air — spring allergies are fast approaching. With the changing of the
seasons comes an increase of pollen and mold in the environment, which means a
lot of people are going to be reaching for a box of tissues. According to the
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), pollen season can
begin as early as February and last through October, although weather patterns
and your location can alter the start and end dates. If you're already dreading
the return of sneezing, sniffles, stuffiness, and itchy, watery or dry eyes,
take steps to keep allergy symptoms from activating your immune system.

See an Allergist Before Spring Allergies Start

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Don't wait for allergy symptoms to make you miserable before seeing your allergist, advises Jaime Landman, MD, president of Florida Center for Allergy and Asthma Care in Miami. "You should start drugs, which were previously effective, early in the season, before pollen peaks. This should be before we start seeing pollen in trees throughout the country in February, and possibly January for southern states like Florida. We are mainly referring to antihistamines, ideally not the ones that make you drowsy." Jordan S. Josephson, MD, ear, nose, and throat specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and author of Sinus Relief Now, encourages people to see an allergy or sinus specialist before pollen counts rise, even if previous attempts at treatment weren't successful. "There are newer treatments and combinations of therapy that may offer renewed hope for feeling better," Dr. Josephson says.

Stay on the 'Outs' With Pollen

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Enjoy a respite from spring allergies inside your home by shutting
out pollen. As tempting as it may be to let the spring breeze in, keep
doors and windows closed to minimize allergy symptoms. When spring
cleaning, focus on areas in your home where allergens tend to accumulate
— air filters, bedding, upholstered furniture, and carpeting. Vacuum
often — floors, furniture, rugs — and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
Try these other tips:

· Change clothes once you get home, says Dr. Landman. Pollen sticks
to fabric, and you could end up spreading pollen spores throughout your
home. (Avoid hanging clothes outside to dry for the same reason.)

· Shower before bed, Josephson urges. Transferring allergens from your hair or face to your pillow can make matters worse.

· Change the filters on your air conditioning unit frequently and use a high efficiency grade filter.

Mold-Proof Your Home

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Pollen isn't the only spring allergy culprit. Mold can also kick your allergy symptoms into overdrive. The AAAAI recommends keeping mold out of your home by focusing on areas where mold is most common — basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and any areas with leaks. Here's more:

· Remove mold from hard surfaces with water and detergent. If a mixture of water and 5-percent bleach is needed, be sure not to mix the bleach with other cleansers.

· Wash fabric materials with soap and water. If the mold cannot be cleaned out, it's best to discard the item.

· Repair and seal leaks in pipes, windows, or roofs.

· If you use a dehumidifier, be sure to empty the water often and keep the unit clean to prevent mildew.

· If mold returns to an area that has been cleaned, check for leaks or a lack of proper ventilation.

Plan Your Schedule to Dodge Peak Allergy Hours

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As
frustrating as it may be, try to plan your schedule so that you can avoid outdoor activities when the pollen count is highest, typically 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
says Landman. When making plans to spend time outside during allergy season, keep
in mind that hot, dry days will have a greater amount of pollen in the
environment than cold, rainy days, he adds.

Track Allergen Levels

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Check
the Web sites of your favorite weather stations during allergy season to see if
they offer daily pollen and mold count reports. If your allergist has a site,
chances are you can find the information listed there as well. Bookmark your
favorite sites on your computer for easy daily access. If you use a smart
phone, download a weather app that also provides pollen and mold count reports.
The Weather Channel app offers this feature.

Consider Nasal Irrigation

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Talk
with your doctor about nasal irrigation options, like a low-tech yet effective neti pot. A study of 211 patients from the University of California San Diego
Nasal Dysfunction Clinic concluded that participants experienced relief from 23
out of 30 nasal symptoms after using nasal irrigation two times each day for 3
to 6 weeks. "Irrigating your nose and sinuses
using a Neilmed Netipot or a Grossan Hydropulse will help to wash the
spring allergens out of your nose as allergy seasons starts," says Josephson. "This
will alleviate symptoms like sneezing, itching, sinus headaches, nasal
congestion, post-nasal drip, hoarseness, and feeling run down or fatigued
before they start because it will protect your sinus membranes from the spring
allergens." Just be certain to use bottled or filtered water in your neti pot,
since using it with tap water has been linked to dangerous brain infections.

Try Acupuncture for Spring Allergies

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A
study published in the European
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found significant
reduction of allergy symptoms for study participants who received acupuncture
treatments 3 times per week for 4 weeks, as compared to participants who did
not receive it. Kelly LeGendre, LAc, owner of The Fix Community Acupuncture in
Tucson, Ariz., says the earlier you start acupuncture as a proactive measure to
treat allergies, the better. "It can
take a little while to correct the underlying imbalances that allow the
symptoms to develop, and that time varies based on the severity of the
imbalance. There should definitely be a noticeable reduction in symptoms after
a few months, but severe cases may require ongoing treatment." Acupuncture can
also help if allergies have already flared. "If you wait until you're
experiencing symptoms, I can usually reduce or resolve symptoms such
as runny nose, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and red, itchy eyes, but you
may need to continue treatment throughout the allergy season to maintain
improvements."

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